This post will cover some thoughts I have as 2015 winds to a close. Since setting up the new quilt room, I have looked at all the quilts that I have started, or planned to start, that are not finished yet. This will be my goal for 2016.
I also would like to make some baby quilts to have on hand, to enable me to gift a baby quilt without feeling I have a time schedule to get it done. It would make me feel so organized to have some finished ahead of time. Also, I was surprised at how much fabric I have that comes in "baby quilt" category.
Also, in 2016, I would like to give more information on the blog about how I make my quilts, as I often get questions about them. For instance, Anita left me a comment about this table topper: "What size are the blocks?"
I think I blogged about it before, but it is a free pattern from McCall's Quick Quilts. It is available from www.mccallsquilting.com/free-christmas-quilt-patterns and is called "Peppermint Dash" by Darlene Zimmerman.
Darlene's pattern finishes at 47 in. by 55.5 inches with blocks that finish at 6 inches square.
When I made my table topper, I just divided all the instructions in half, and my squares finish 3 in. by 3 in. I also made fewer blocks that the big quilt. I have 20 churn dash blocks and the magazine directions have 30 blocks. I would like to make the bigger version someday, maybe in 2016.hVE
This week I sorted the last large box of fabric, which was all scraps. It took me a long time, and I have it now sorted into strips by color, and have just a small box of odd shaped pieces. It was fun to look at all the pieces, and have them all sorted now.
The boxes of "projects" is a little overwhelming, but 2016 is a new start, with a clean quilt room, and all of the projects lined up for me to see. I am open to how you tackle old projects that you want to finish......I've seen some ideas out there:
Put the names in a bowl and draw one out and finish that one before drawing another name
Prioritize them by which ones are the furthest toward finishing, and finish those first.
List them by order in which you love them.....I love them all, so that won't work.
Start with the easiest ones, and move more quickly.
Start with the hardest ones, and they will get easier as you go along.
Work on five at a time, and work on the one that interests you that day.
Besides all the projects I have in boxes, I am also starting new ones. The new year starts with a challenge from Australia, The Ultimate Sampler, or the 365 Challenge. There is a plan to make a quilt block every day for a year, to make a 90 inch sampler. All the blocks will be rotary cut and machine pieced, which is what I like to do. I also like the quilt, as it is shown on the website. If you are interested in participating, the website it (Here)
We have had a wonderful Christmas and my dear husband have me the best Christmas present I could ever hope for! He said I could get a yellow Labrador puppy this Spring. And I can't wait! He wrapped up a box filled with lots of paper, and inside was a book about raising Labrador Retrievers. He knew how much I missed our dear Sally since she's been gone. Here's a picture of us taken this afternoon at his sister's home:
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you! On New Year's Eve, I shall toast to a new year filled with finished quilts!
My word for the new year is "focused". I will be focused on completing the quilts I have started.
I also would like to make some baby quilts to have on hand, to enable me to gift a baby quilt without feeling I have a time schedule to get it done. It would make me feel so organized to have some finished ahead of time. Also, I was surprised at how much fabric I have that comes in "baby quilt" category.
Also, in 2016, I would like to give more information on the blog about how I make my quilts, as I often get questions about them. For instance, Anita left me a comment about this table topper: "What size are the blocks?"
I think I blogged about it before, but it is a free pattern from McCall's Quick Quilts. It is available from www.mccallsquilting.com/free-christmas-quilt-patterns and is called "Peppermint Dash" by Darlene Zimmerman.
Darlene's pattern finishes at 47 in. by 55.5 inches with blocks that finish at 6 inches square.
When I made my table topper, I just divided all the instructions in half, and my squares finish 3 in. by 3 in. I also made fewer blocks that the big quilt. I have 20 churn dash blocks and the magazine directions have 30 blocks. I would like to make the bigger version someday, maybe in 2016.hVE
This week I sorted the last large box of fabric, which was all scraps. It took me a long time, and I have it now sorted into strips by color, and have just a small box of odd shaped pieces. It was fun to look at all the pieces, and have them all sorted now.
The boxes of "projects" is a little overwhelming, but 2016 is a new start, with a clean quilt room, and all of the projects lined up for me to see. I am open to how you tackle old projects that you want to finish......I've seen some ideas out there:
Put the names in a bowl and draw one out and finish that one before drawing another name
Prioritize them by which ones are the furthest toward finishing, and finish those first.
List them by order in which you love them.....I love them all, so that won't work.
Start with the easiest ones, and move more quickly.
Start with the hardest ones, and they will get easier as you go along.
Work on five at a time, and work on the one that interests you that day.
Besides all the projects I have in boxes, I am also starting new ones. The new year starts with a challenge from Australia, The Ultimate Sampler, or the 365 Challenge. There is a plan to make a quilt block every day for a year, to make a 90 inch sampler. All the blocks will be rotary cut and machine pieced, which is what I like to do. I also like the quilt, as it is shown on the website. If you are interested in participating, the website it (Here)
We have had a wonderful Christmas and my dear husband have me the best Christmas present I could ever hope for! He said I could get a yellow Labrador puppy this Spring. And I can't wait! He wrapped up a box filled with lots of paper, and inside was a book about raising Labrador Retrievers. He knew how much I missed our dear Sally since she's been gone. Here's a picture of us taken this afternoon at his sister's home:
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you! On New Year's Eve, I shall toast to a new year filled with finished quilts!
My word for the new year is "focused". I will be focused on completing the quilts I have started.
5 comments:
Love the little churn dash quilt! I always forget to include details when I post on my blog... I think it's just because I'm sooooo excited to have a finish I can't wait to show it!!! lol!
As far as working on WIP's... I think I like the 5 at a time idea? Sometimes spending too much time on one project causes a dull in interest in it... and that's how the WIP originally came about? ;-)
Anyways, I usually have one cross stitch, one pieced quilt and one applique piece going at the same time... congrats on the puppy! :-)
I look forward to seeing your new puppy when the time has come!!
Your quilt is gorgeous! You continue to inspire me, and I love your ideas. This is a great picture of you two-- and didn't Lloyd just come up with the best gift ever! Looking forward to the antics of your puppy-to-come! xooxoox
Congratulations on the fabric and project sorting.
The made ahead baby quilts is the very best idea. I did that 2 years ago. Such a joy when a baby arrives and I can post a quilt the same day I get the news. I had 15 made and now there are only three in the tub and 4 babies due so far this year!
I will be joining you on the sampler quilt.
So far as finishing, I like the "do the one closest to being finished " model.
That is my goal too - to have some baby quilt tops made up for when they are needed.
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